Ladakh Violence: Supreme Court Issues Notice in Sonam Wangchuk’s Wife Habeas Corpus Plea Against NSA Detention

The matter was heard by a Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appeared for Wangchuk, while Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented the Union and the Union Territory of Ladakh.

At the outset, Sibal argued that the detention was illegal and violative of fundamental rights. He pointed out that neither Wangchuk’s family nor his counsel had been supplied with the grounds of detention, as required by law.

SG Mehta countered that the grounds had already been served on the detenue. “Law requires service on the detenue and we have done that,” he said, adding that Dr. Angmo’s request to meet her husband “is being considered.”

When Justice Kumar asked, “Why withhold it from his wife?”, the SG replied, “We will examine the feasibility. No issues as such, but we don’t want them to create a new ground to challenge the detention order.”

The Court directed the SG to examine the feasibility of supplying the detention order to Dr. Angmo, noting that it had already been served on Wangchuk himself.

Sibal insisted, “How do I challenge the order without knowing the grounds?”

To this, Justice Kumar remarked that Sibal’s submission; that non-supply of grounds to the wife will not be a ground to challenge the order, would be recorded. Sibal immediately objected, saying, “Please don’t record it unless we are supplied with it immediately.”

The SG also told the Bench that Wangchuk had told the prison medical officer he was not on any medication. “This is all hype, just to portray in media that he is deprived of medicines and access to wife. That’s all,” Mehta said.

Recording the submission, the Court directed that Wangchuk “shall be given medical attention as may be required, as per extant prison rules.”

When Sibal informed the Court that Dr. Angmo had last sought to meet her husband on the previous Friday, Justice Kumar said, “Just go by prison rules. The wife will definitely get access.”

The Bench then listed the matter for next hearing on Tuesday (October 14).

As the hearing drew to a close, a light exchange followed. SG Mehta said, “We know what’s going on.”

Sibal retorted, “We also know what’s going on.”

Justice Kumar, smiling, quipped, “We don’t know what’s going on. You all are seasoned advocates, don’t do this.”

According to the petition, Wangchuk, an internationally acclaimed innovator and social reformer, was detained on September 26, 2025, by the Deputy Commissioner, Leh, while he was recovering from a prolonged fast undertaken to demand constitutional safeguards for Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule. He was subsequently shifted to Central Jail, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, without being furnished the grounds of detention.

The plea alleges that Wangchuk was denied basic rights; including access to his wife, lawyer, and essential medicines, and that his detention constitutes a “blatant violation” of Articles 14, 19, 21, and 22 of the Constitution.

The petition further states that the arbitrary transfer to Jodhpur, harassment of students and staff of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives (HIAL), and alleged “false propaganda” linking Wangchuk to foreign entities reflect malafide state action aimed at suppressing democratic dissent and peaceful environmental activism.

Dr. Angmo has also highlighted the growing distress among the people of Ladakh following Wangchuk’s detention. The petition refers to the recent suicide of a member of the Ladakh Buddhist Association, reportedly due to depression after Wangchuk’s arrest, calling it evidence of the “psychological toll” on the community.

The petitioner has sought issuance of a writ of habeas corpus, immediate production of Wangchuk before the Supreme Court, quashing of his detention order, and directions for his prompt release.

"I have sought relief from the SUPREME COURT OF INDIA through a HABEAS CORPUS petition against @Wangchuk66’s detention. It is one week today. Still I have no information about Sonam Wangchuk’s health, the condition he is in nor the grounds of detention," she wrote on X on October 2 morning.

Angmo, who also serves as CEO of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, filed a habeas corpus petition challenging the detention, saying she has not been informed of her husband’s health condition or the grounds for his arrest.

Earlier, she had written to President Droupadi Murmu seeking intervention, alleging a “witch-hunt” against Wangchuk for his activism over the past four years. A day later, she accused the Centre of “misusing” the Ladakh Police to “torture” locals after the violence, drawing parallels with colonial-era oppression.

“Is India really free? In 1857, 24,000 Britishers used 135,000 Indian sepoys to oppress 300 million Indians under orders from the Queen. Today, a dozen administrators are misusing 2,400 Ladakhi police to oppress and torture 3 lakh Ladakhis under orders of the MHA,” she had posted on X.

Hearing Date: October 6, 2025

Bench: Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria